Rosannagh MacLennan of Canada won the Gold medal in Trampoline at the London 2012 Olympic Games, August 04, 2012.Jean Levac
/ Postmedia Olympic Team

Rosannagh MacLennan of Canada performs her gold medal routine in the trampoline at the London 2012 Olympic Games, August 04, 2012.Jean Levac
/ Postmedia Olympic Network

Rosie MacLennan of Canada won the gold medal in Trampoline at the London 2012 Olympic Games on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012.Jean Levac
/ Ottawa Citizen/Postmedia News

Rosannagh MacLennan of Canada performs her gold medal routine in the trampoline at the London 2012 Olympic Games, August 04, 2012.Jean Levac
/ Postmedia Olympic Team

Silver medalist Shanshan Huang of China (L), Gold medalist Rosannagh MacLennan (M) of Canada and bronze medalist Wenna He of China in the women's trampoline event at the London 2012 Olympic Games, August 04, 2012.Jean Levac
/ Postmedia Olympic Team

Rosie MacLennan of Canada won the gold medal in Trampoline at the London 2012 Olympic Games on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012.Jean Levac
/ Ottawa Citizen/Postmedia News

Karen Cockburn of Canada (L) reacts to the gold medal of Rosannagh MacLennan of Canada in the trampoline at the London 2012 Olympic Games, August 04, 2012.Jean Levac
/ Postmedia News

Canada’s Rosie Maclennan is hugged by teammate Karen Cockburn (top) immediately after results declared her winner of the gold medal at the London Summer Olympic Games on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012.Julie Jacobson
/ AP

Canada’s Rosie Maclennan waves after performing during the women’s trampoline final at the 2012 Summer Olympics on Friday, Aug. 3, 2012 in London.Julie Jacobson
/ AP

Canada’s gold medallist Rosie Maclennan waves to the audience during the qualifying round of the women’s trampoline at the 2012 Summer Olympics on Saturday, Aug. 4 2012, in London.Gregory Bull
/ AP

Canada’s Rosie Maclennan waves after performing during the women’s trampoline final at the 2012 Summer Olympics on Friday, Aug. 3, 2012 in London.Julie Jacobson
/ AP

Canada's Rosannagh MacLennan, from King City, Ont., performs her routine during the qualification round in the women's trampoline at the 2012 Olympic Games in London on Saturday, August 4, 2012.Ryan Remiorz
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Rosannagh Maclennan of Canada warms up during podium training for trampoline on Day 6 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at North Greenwich Arena on August 2, 2012 in London, England.Ronald Martinez
/ Getty Images

Canada’s Rosie MacLennan, from King City, Ont., performs her routine during the qualification round in the women’s trampoline at the 2012 Olympic Games in London on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012.Ryan Remiorz
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

LONDON — The number, the instant it flashed up on the North Greenwich Arena scoreboard, ignited audible gasps, then a deafening wall of sound.

“My score?’’ repeated Rosie MacLennan a half-hour later, an Olympic gold medal draped around her neck and a 57.3 personal best on the books. “I was shocked. It’s the biggest score I’ve ever gotten by, I think, just under a point. I knew it would be a tough one to catch, but you never want to get ahead of yourself.’’

“I mean, 57.3 is huge,’’ marvelled the three-medal Olympian competing in her fourth and final Games. “As soon as I saw that score, I knew she had it. I even told her. I saw the faces [of still-to-compete Huang Shanshan and He Wenna], the pressure it put on them. I knew they’d feel the heat of that huge score. As soon as I saw it I said ‘That’s a gold medal.’ ”

Indeed, a 23-year-old pixie from Toronto, a product of the Sky Riders trampoline factory, landed Canada’s first gold medal of the Games.

Cementing her status as the new star of women’s trampoline, four years removed from a tutorial seventh-place finish in Beijing, MacLennan laid down the performance of her life on the biggest competitive day of her life.

“I don’t necessarily imagine myself standing on top of the podium. I really just focus on ‘Okay, how can I do the best routine possible?’ And wherever that gets me ... When I’m able to do that, that’s when I’m the happiest.’’

When asked the inevitable anthem-moment question, she smiled: “To be honest, it’s still a bit surreal. I was just so proud and excited. I knew the beginning of my routine was strong, but you kind of get into a pattern, so to be honest I don’t really remember the rest. I was just trying to focus on one trick at a time and getting it done.

“The difficulty definitely helped. I had a bit of advantage over the other competitors going in with the difficulty. But there’s still the form and the height.’’

The result — still in question as the afternoon’s final challenger, Wenna, began her routine — was put beyond doubt when the Chinese trampolinist fell on her final landing. That cemented MacLennan at the top of the pecking order and fast-tracked Shanshan into second.

“I was a little surprised, well very surprised,’’ MacLennan said of Wenna’s tumble. “China’s so strong and they rarely ever falter. So when that happens, it’s shocking.’’

“I knew Rosie had a shot at the gold,’’ said coach Dave Ross. “A bit of a long shot, though. Pretty amazing, really. She did the routine we wanted her to do. She nailed it. The judges giving her credit for how good she was, then the Chinese girl who may or may not have bested Rosie, with the scores rising, falling down ... It was exciting to the last second.

“She did a routine which is near the top of her game, when it counts, under pressure. She left out her last move, she might’ve done 2/10ths more difficulty. But she was in 85-per-cent great shape, so she went with the easier option. A smart choice.’’

MacLennan’s combined qualifying score, 104.5, slid her nicely into the No. 5 spot in the final start list, right after Cockburn, and she took maximum advantage.

“The first routine I was a bit nervous. It’s a bit overwhelming coming into a stadium with that much energy. As the routines progress and you get more used to the environment you get stronger and more focused. I was fourth going into the finals and that’s a good place for me to be because you have nothing to lose. So you may as well just give ’er.’’

She credited a through buildup in training for the Zen-like peace of mind she exhibited. Physically, she felt stronger, more confident of her jumping ability, than ever before. The seventh-place understudy at Beijing has developed in the intervening years into a polished, unflappable champion.

A whole posse of MacLennans, family and relatives, were on hand inside the North Greenwich Arena. Her parents, Jane and John, brothers Matt and Mike, sister Kate, sister-in-law Laura, assorted aunts and brothers’ girlfriends.

“I haven’t seen them yet,’’ MacLennan said while doing interviews. “I saw my brother for a minute, he came over to take some pictures. I hope [to celebrate later]. Or at least see them for a while.’’

Is there anything, now that she’s Olympic champion, she’d enjoy marking the victory with? Something she’s had to sacrifice, perhaps?

“Some chocolate,” was her instant reply, followed by a peal of laughter.

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